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Sun Aug 21, 2016 2:19 pm

Greetings all, What are some methods being used to safely convert the semaphores to 12volts when using the originals for daily driver status?

Sun Aug 21, 2016 6:14 pm

Just change the bulbs to 12v and plug them in. I've run all of my buses with the old 6v solenoids without issue. Unless you forget to turn them off, they really don't burn up from the short use intervals.
Disclaimer....not responsible for any issues / damages due to my personal opinion and experiences. Attempt at your own risk :lol:

Mon Aug 22, 2016 5:15 am

They can be re-wound to run on 12v

Mon Aug 22, 2016 7:39 am

or you could just go this route...
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-113-953-021-F12V

Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:13 am

+1 on the repros. They look and work great.

There was someone on TheSamba selling 12V flashing LED bulbs for semaphores but I haven't seen them offered lately. If you can find any I highly recommend them. Brighter than the original bulbs and the flashing helps people understand what those weird pop-out arms are for. :lol:

Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:14 am

ive been debating on a set of those flashing bulbs but its hard to swallow on the price for 2 bulbs....but in the big picture, whats potential damage to your bus worth because someone did not understand what a semaphore is.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1844898

Mon Aug 22, 2016 10:44 am

They're a bit less expensive here, though they've gone up since I bought mine. I consider them worth it.

Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:05 pm

I use a strong ceramic/aluminium finned resistor, much like the things that are used for the wiper conversion. I like to get their rating slightly short of the resistance they should have to convert 12 to 6 V. That way I have about 7 - 8 V at the semaphore and old reluctant semaphores with a little more inner electrical and mechanical resistance will still come up nicely.
I will have to look at my bus tomorrow to check the resistance rating.

Tue Aug 23, 2016 8:50 am

I'm a 100% sold on the flashing semaphores, I fitted a pair of LED flashing bulbs to the semaphores before my Austria trip and it just felt safer. People understand flashing orange, over solid orange and they are brighter too!

Tue Aug 23, 2016 10:04 am

52panelvan wrote: I'm a 100% sold on the flashing semaphores, I fitted a pair of LED flashing bulbs to the semaphores before my Austria trip and it just felt safer. People understand flashing orange, over solid orange and they are brighter too!

i found the regular semaphores on my 59 beetle did not do much to tell the average car guy where i was going, but they sure did scare the pedestrians.

the wildly flapping semaphores on my 56 fire engine bus worked very well.

should be easy enough to run the semaphores with a blinker relais and get the same flapping action. total nuisance when you are sitting at a light though

Tue Aug 23, 2016 11:43 am

52panelvan wrote: I'm a 100% sold on the flashing semaphores, I fitted a pair of LED flashing bulbs to the semaphores before my Austria trip and it just felt safer. People understand flashing orange, over solid orange and they are brighter too!

Mark, listen to Ev and what we were talking when she rode pssgr in the 34, behind the KRSS. trying to figure out if your semaphores were actually activated or not. :roll:

They are bright and the flashing is ok, but you just can't see them from many angles. Most of the people understanding semaphores have since passed away. it's time for neat blacked out LED turn signals like Peter has on his 54 DLX.
I just use the sempahores for fun and will get fully working LED blinkers before HO and for daily use.

Tue Aug 23, 2016 5:43 pm

djfordmanjack wrote: 52panelvan wrote: I'm a 100% sold on the flashing semaphores, I fitted a pair of LED flashing bulbs to the semaphores before my Austria trip and it just felt safer. People understand flashing orange, over solid orange and they are brighter too!

Mark, listen to Ev and what we were talking when she rode pssgr in the 34, behind the KRSS. trying to figure out if your semaphores were actually activated or not. :roll:

They are bright and the flashing is ok, but you just can't see them from many angles. Most of the people understanding semaphores have since passed away. it's time for neat blacked out LED turn signals like Peter has on his 54 DLX.
I just use the sempahores for fun and will get fully working LED blinkers before HO and for daily use.

Yes, I just use them for fun too or to show people at VW meets.

Tons of VW people have never see them in action and are excited to check them out.

Wed Aug 24, 2016 2:05 pm

I have them flashing now since this video. I also have extra blinkers to add some safety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNyseAGRntk